Page 30 of Love Without Demands

“Well, I’m sorry you don’t have anything better than that,” I teased, and he laughed.

“Trust me, it’s been the highlight of my day.”

I couldn’t deny the flutter in my belly at those words.

Tony rose as soon as we entered. Cruz set the box on the desk, and I watched nervously as Tony looked over the sample invitation taped on top of it with a speculative eye.

“They’re perfect,” he announced, and I felt the tension drain from my shoulders. “Good job, Lehra.”

Cruz winked before leaving.

“Anything else you need from me?” I asked Tony, and he shook his head as the door behind him opened.

“Lehra, can I see you for a moment?” Auburn Bouvier asked, and my nerves ratcheted up to level one hundred. Did he wantto talk to me about the job? Or being late this morning? Shit, it could be anything.

“Of course.”

Tony gave me a bolstering pat between my shoulder blades as I followed our boss into the inner office where he closed the door and gestured for me to sit. He took his high-backed leather chair and folded his hands in front of him on the desk.

“I understand you’re thinking of taking Tony’s position when he leaves.”

“Yes, sir. I would love to.”

Pursing his lips, he nodded. “I think you’ll be a good fit. Where do you live?”

“In Queens.”

Bouvier sat back in his chair and stroked a finger over his lips, his enigmatic blue eyes meeting mine. “That’s too far. I’d like you to move to Manhattan. There’s a one-bedroom available in my building.”

Ummm, do what?I forced a smile onto my face.How to say this delicately…

“That’s really nice, Mr. Bouvier, but I don’t think I could afford an apartment in your building. Not that my salary isn’t great,” I assured him, “but you’re… you know…”A freaking billionaire.I stumbled over my words, feeling like an idiot, but he smiled patiently.

“Tony also requested a raise in pay for you since you’ll be training with him and inevitably taking on new responsibilities in addition to your receptionist duties.”

“Oh, that was very nice of him.”

“Instead of a raise, I’d like to offer you the apartment. When you take over for Tony, your salary will be increased to the one he presented you with earlier today, and you can still keep the apartment. You’re welcome to come by this evening and see if it’s to your liking.”

If it’s to my liking?I wanted to scream.Would you like to hear about the dreary bar of soap I was considering living in this morning?

I knew the building Auburn Bouvier lived in, and it was extravagant and way more than I would ever be able to afford in this lifetime. Free housing would save me thousands in rent every month. This was like a dream come true.

I was pretty sure I looked like a starving catfish, my mouth gaping open and then closing. “I’ll be there,” I said, trying to sound cool and not like I was about to bust at the seams.

Two weeks later, with Cruz’s help, I moved into the nicest place I’d ever lived.

“It’s so spacious,” I gushed, spinning in an ecstatic circle. “Look at these hardwood floors! They’re so shiny, I can almost see my reflection in them. And the windows! They’re so clear.” I flung an arm out to indicate the floor-to-ceiling windows.

“That’s a good thing for windows to be,” Cruz replied with a smirk, obviously amused at my excitement.

“Smartass,” I shot back, giving his shoulder a shove. “I’m going to order us a pizza as a thank you for helping me move.”

“You don’t have to—”

I facepalmed him. “Shut it, Estrada. You’re eating pizza with me.”

When the food arrived, we sat together on my couch and ate like the starving people we were. “I can’t believe this place came furnished,” I said, bouncing my butt on the soft cushions.

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